ルーム・トゥ・リード・ジャパンは、ブルームバーグ東京オフィスにて開催された「Best of Bloomberg Day 2026」に参加しました。本イベントは、ブルームバーグ社員の皆さまが社会課題への取り組みに触れることができるチャリティイベントで、当日はおよそ200名の皆さまがご来場くださいました。
Room to Read Japan participated in Best of Bloomberg Day 2026, held at Bloomberg’s Tokyo office. This charity event provided Bloomberg employees with the opportunity to engage with organizations addressing social challenges, and close to 200 attendees joined us on the day.
Bringing together NGOs working across a variety of fields, including education, environmental protection, animal welfare, and human rights, the entire office was filled with a warm atmosphere that further strengthened the sense of community among employees.
At the Room to Read Japan booth, we had the opportunity to introduce our initiatives and showcase our children’s books, while directly sharing the importance of literacy and girls’ education. Through conversations with employees and other attendees, we were reminded of the strong interest in the impact that education can have.
The event also celebrated the culture that Bloomberg values — one grounded in curiosity, collaboration, and collective impact. It was a day that allowed us to connect with many employees and experience the power of community firsthand.
Room to Read and Bloomberg have built a long-standing global partnership through education initiatives. We are deeply grateful to everyone who continues to support our work through volunteering, donations, and other generous contributions.
Room to Read Japan is a certified NPO. Donations are eligible for tax deductions. If you are interested in supporting our work as an individual or company, or in volunteering, please feel free to contact us.
Room to Read conducted a session for Grade 3 students at the American School in Japan (ASIJ). This session was part of ASIJ’s Children’s Rights unit and marked our third year of collaboration.
This year, the program was designed to go beyond simply “learning about” issues, placing emphasis on understanding through experience.
Experiencing “Not Being Able to Read” — A Decoding Exercise
At the beginning of the session, students participated in a decoding exercise that simulated the experience of not being able to read. Using clues such as letter shapes and sounds, they worked step by step to decode unfamiliar text.
Although they were initially unsure, the students gradually began to recognize patterns and experienced moments of “I got it!”
Through this activity, they not only felt the challenge of reading, but also the joy and sense of achievement that comes with understanding.
Comments such as:
“Being able to read is amazing. “If I couldn’t read, learning would be really hard.” highlighted how deeply literacy impacts not only learning, but also everyday life and future opportunities. These reflections helped students naturally realize that literacy is not something to be taken for granted, but a fundamental foundation for learning.
Global Education Inequality and the Story of a Girl Who Chose to Learn
The session continued with an introduction to global education inequality and Room to Read’s work to address it. This was followed by a screening of She Creates Change, featuring the real-life story of Dewmini, a girl from Sri Lanka.
Growing up in a drought-affected rural community, Dewmini was expected to leave school and work in the city to support her family. Instead, she chose to continue her education and taught herself how to grow food through home gardening. Her efforts eventually helped support her family financially, and today, she is working toward helping local farmers adapt to climate change and become more self-reliant.
Inspiring Students to Ask, “What Can I Do?”
During the post-screening discussion, students shared many thoughts on education, climate change, environmental issues, and girls’ rights.
Tamera Davis, the Grade 3 teacher, shared the following reflection:
“This story strongly connected with themes such as climate change and environmental challenges, which are increasingly important today. It closely aligned with what we are learning at school and with our students’ interests. In particular, Dewmini’s ability to think independently and take action in the face of adversity made a strong impression on the students. It encouraged them not only to understand the story, but also to reflect on what they themselves can do.”
Through this experience, students began to see how the choices and actions of one individual can create change for families, communities, and beyond—and to consider these possibilities in their own lives.
Room to Read Japan is a certified nonprofit organization. Donations are tax-deductible. We welcome inquiries about school partnerships, individual and corporate support, and volunteer opportunities. Please feel free to reach out to us.
On Sunday, March 1, 2026, the Tokyo Marathon 2026 was held, with Room to Read Japan participating as an official charity partner. Among approximately 39,000 runners from around the world, 161 charity runners from over 20 countries ran in support of children’s education.
From the EXPO through race day, employees from our corporate partners and more than 40 volunteers warmly welcomed and cheered on the runners along the course.
In addition to donations from the runners themselves, Room to Read Japan raised funds through corporate matching gifts and crowdfunding, surpassing our original goal and raising funds equivalent to supporting the education of more than 11,000 children. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who made this impact possible.
東京マラソンEXPO 2026の様子（2月26日～2月28日） Scenes from the Tokyo Marathon EXPO 2026 (February 26 – 28)
The day before the race, we held a morning shakeout run led by Reiji, a long-time supporter who was also running in this year’s Tokyo Marathon. We ran from Tokyo Station to a lap around Hibiya Park, making our final preparations for race day.
Volunteer supporters came to cheer the runners on at the Ryogoku – Tamachi (27Km – 37Km) point, which is said to be the most challenging section for the runners, and of course, at the finish area! Many runners responded to the cheers, exchanging high-fives!
After the run, we welcomed charity runners at the Charity Lounge in Tokyo International Forum! This time, the lounge also served as a meeting point for family and friends, bringing together many people to celebrate the runners’ finish.
I am a woman and a scientist. Reading a single book can completely change the way you see the world. Books can introduce you to friends across time and teach you kindness. Today, I find purpose in writing myself. Even in the most difficult moments, books have given me the strength to keep going. I want to give something back in return.
Ayako Onzo
As an avid reader growing up, I’ve always known how books can open minds, spark imagination, and help us learn and grow. That’s why I was honored to run my first marathon in support of Room to Read, an organization that helps children around the world access quality education through its focus on literacy and gender equality—making the marathon more than just a physical challenge.
My friends and family were incredibly supportive. They donated to the cause and cheered me on throughout the race. Three things that made the biggest difference in my fundraising were:
making it as easy as possible for people to donate (the Room to Read personal fundraising page is great for this),
not being shy about sharing the campaign (posting on social media, messaging friends and family, and mentioning it to coworkers), and
taking advantage of corporate matching whenever possible.
It was an amazing experience, and I would highly recommend running the Tokyo Marathon for Room to Read.
世界中のチャリティランナーの皆様、ありがとうございました！
Thank you very much for your wonderful run!
Room to Read Japan will continue to participate as a beneficiary organization for the Tokyo Marathon 2027 Charity, scheduled to take place on Sunday, March 7, 2027! For any inquiries or questions regarding this, please feel free to contact Room to Read Japan at japan@roomtoread.org.
©東京マラソン財団
©東京マラソン財団
©東京マラソン財団
©東京マラソン財団
©東京マラソン財団
